This book is unique as the only book on the Portuguese parliament in English. The Portuguese parliament is a valuable case study to understand the different stages of development of a newly democratic parliament. From Legislation to Legitimation shows that, as democracy developed, the role of the Portuguese parliament changed considerably. Whereas in the first years of democracy the Assembleia da Republica was centred on its legislative role, during the second decade its legitimation role expanded, making scrutiny parliament's main function.

"Leston-Bandeira traces the development of the Portuguese parliament, the Assembleia de República over the country’s second decade of democracy, 1983-1995. The period witnessed a coalition, a minority, and an absolute majority governments. One of her goals is to dispel the narrow-minded portrayal of the institution as chaotic and irrelevant by English language studies, most of which consider only its first decade." --Reference & Rresearch Book News

Cristina Leston-Bandeira is a lecturer in legislative studies at the University of Hull. She has established herself as the leading expert on the Portuguese parliament. Her research interests also include new parliaments and the use of the internet by parliament.